Folding guard for bedsteads



(No Model.) 7

. v J. H. OONRATH.

FOLDING GUARD FOR BEDSTEADS.

No. 475,932. I Patented May 31, 1892.

lvdmeooea 544 0 c wl 'c QM L- 5 W JZoZi/ws H 00mm 272 61 tom/10,1 5

Fries.

JULIUS II. CONRATII, OF JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI.

, FOLDING GUARD FOR BEDSTEADS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 475,932, dated May 31, 1892.

Application filed March 25, 1892, Serial No. 426,378. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JULIUS II. CONRATH, of Jefferson City, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Guards for Bedsteads, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompany ing drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to improvements in folding guards for bedsteads; and it consists in the novel arrangement and combination of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described, and designated in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal section of a bedstead having my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my improved guard, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the sockets which I employ in carrying out my invention and as attached to one of the rails of the bedstead.

The object of my invention is to construct a combined folding and detachable guard, which may be removably attached to one or both of the longitudinal guards of the bedstead for preventing a child from rolling off or falling out of the same, the construction of which will be hereinafter more fully described.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a bedstead of the usual construction, comprising the side rails 2, to which my invention is easily applied.

3 represents the folding guard, which when opened and applied to the side rails of the bedstead, as shown in Fig. 1, extends the entire length of the said bedstead, which answers the purpose for which the same is designed. The said guard 3 is composed of a series of bars or strips 4, which are riveted or bolted together, as shown at 5, forming a movable connection between the same, whereby the said guard may be folded up very compactly when removed from the bedstead.

6 represents the end pieces of the said guard, the length of which is a little longer than the remaining or other bars which provide support-s for the said guard, the ends of which are adapted to be inserted in the sockets hereinafter described for holding the said guard to the bedstead, as shown in Fig. l. The said end pieces 6 are loosely attached to the remaining bars or strips, and when the guard is properly constructed the ends of the said end pieces 6 will extend considerable distance below the body of the guard, as best shown in Fig. 2.

7 represents intermediate bars or strips, which are preferably of the same length, and are movably united by means of the said rivets or bolts 5.

8 represents short strips or bars, which are movably attached to the remaining bars or strips completing the guard and constructing the same in such a manner as to be folded when so desired or lengthened out in a position, as shown in the drawings, for the purpose hereinbefore stated.

The sockets which I employ are especially constructed for a purpose, and in order to hold the guard rigidly to the rail of the bedstead I einploytwo of said sockets for each guard namely, one for each of the projecting ends of the end bars or slats G of the said guard.

9 represents a socket, which is preferably constructed of a single piece of metal of such a nature as to be bent in the form desired and is attached to the inner surface of the rail of the bedstead, whereby the same is hidden from view. The said socket is provided with an inclined inner edge or surface 10, which conforms to the angle given to the end. pieces 6 of the guard when the same is open, forming a better support for the same.

11 represents ears or extensions formed with the said socket, through which screws or other fastening devices 12 are passed for permanently attaching the said socket to the innor surface of the rail 2 of the bedstead.

\Vhen it is desired to remove the guard from the bedstead, the same is simply elevated, in which movement the projecting ends of the end bars (3 will be moved out of the socket 9, after which the said guard may be folded in a manner well known and previously stated.

I am aware that prior to my invention guards for similar purposes have been attached to a bedstead, but the same are comstructed entirely different and cannot be folded by compressing the same, and further that those heretofore patented are clamped to the said rail by means of clamps or other devices.

I do not wish to limit myself to the precise construction of the sockets herein shown and described, as I may cast the same in the form.

In practice I may also desire to construct the guard somewhat shorter than the bed, instead of running the same the entire length of the said bed, as shown and described.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim is As an improvement in folding guards for bedsteads, the combination, with a folding frame comprising downwardly convergent and elongated end members, of sockets for receiving said members, said sockets having vertical opposing sides and upwardly-inclined divergent outer sides, whereby said sockets are adapted to receive said convergent members, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. In testimony whereof I aftix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JULIUS l'l. CONRATH. Witnesses:

G. E. LOHMAN, G. A. FISCHER. 

